The murder of a Wilkinson, a wealthy man and presidential hopeful, at a hotel in Berkeley kicks off this novel. Detective Sullivan who had had a drink with a soon-to-be suspect in the hotel’s bar is tasked with finding the killer. He quickly find that daughters of the very wealthy and troubled Bainbridge family, as well as Mrs, Chang Kai-Shek are all suspects, having political and possible romantic dealings with Wilkinson.

While Detective Sullivan travels around the city, often ferrying his sharply intelligent niece to her job, he relates the complicated and often ugly history of the area. He's half Mexican and can pass, but she can’t, which means that while he can interact relatively easily with the suspects, he realizes that his half-Jewish, half-Mexican background could prove to be a detriment if discovered by his fellow police officers or the suspects.

Author Amy Chua relates this story with two storylines, alternating between the Sullivan's investigation, and the testimony of the Genevieve Bainbridge, grandmotherto the suspect, who provides the prosecutor with a rundown of the Bainbridge family history, which is one of mental illness, failed romantic escapades, and the various entanglements and proclivities of her granddaughters that provide context for their present day actions.

I loved all the history Sullivan rattles off as he travels around the city, looking for leads. Author Amy Chua provides terrific context through these details for the murder case, but also for Sullivan's and Miriam's lives. Instead of bogging the story down with needless exposition, I found it only enriched my enjoyment of this already interesting mystery.

I also really enjoyed Sullivan's and Miriam's interactions. She's a got great energy, and I loved her attitude and smarts. The two have different experiences of their city, and this illustrates the difficult line Sullivan has to walk with during his job, while Miriam's choices are so restrictive and negative.

"The Golden Gate" has a lot going on in it, with complex and dysfunctional family dynamics at the heart of the story. It's also a great portrait of San Francisco during WWII, with its complicated and fascinating past. I greatly enjoyed this book, and would love to read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Any Chua's debut novel focuses on life in California during World War II throughout the narrative. Much of the book digs into the factual history of what happened to Japanese and Chinese immigrants after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the internment camps where Japanese immigrants were forced to relocate, and the hatred and racism that Asian immigrants faced as a whole. There are also discussions of the treatment of Black Americans and Mexican immigrants leading up to and during that time period as well. Sullivan is a Mexican American who takes his mother’s name after grappling with the events of his own family’s past, and begins to develop a deeper relationship with his biracial niece Miriam, adding emotional and familial elements to the overall narrative.

Oh I liked this book! I found it compulsively readable. Switching POV between the detective and the grandma via the deposition was really enjoyable, and I love the asides about California and San Francisco history. The classic noir style made contemporary with realistic and historical looks at race and other biases was really refreshing. I didn't even care too much about solving the mystery, I mostly wanted to continue to read about these characters interacting and living their complicated lives. Truly an enjoyable read. I've been recommending it a lot.

This book is a historical mystery taking place in San Francisco in 1941 but it has several flashbacks of an event that happened in 1919. We follow a detective as he tries to piece together the suspects in the murder of a prominent political figure.
This book was sluggish at times and I really thought about giving up but then the story would come together and I'd be enthralled again. I really enjoyed the journey we went on in this book to find the murderer. It felt like we were one of the cops moving around in the investigation. The history of San Francisco was also touched on and I felt myself waiting for these moments . Overall this was a great debut and ill definitely pick up more by this author.

In 1944 Berkeley, Homicide Detective Al Sullivan is thrust into a new case: the assassination of a presidential candidate, wealthy industrialist Walter Wilkinson. As he delves into the case, Sullivan’s investigation entangles him with the Bainbridge heiresses, political ambitions, and the intriguing world of forensic advances, all while dealing with issues of race and class. A good read

An enthralling, unforgettable story with dynamic characters and a twisty mystery. Rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Detective Al Sullivan, Berkeley Police, is assigned to investigate the murder of a well-known political candidate. It’s 1944 and WWII is on everyone’s mind. The murder occurs at one of the San Francisco Bay areas elite hotels. References to a child’s death in 1930 at the same hotel keep coming up. There is lots of family background both on Sullivan and the various wealthy families in the area, as well as historical information on the location. This is a satisfying mystery, if a tad too long, full of red herrings.

I love a good mystery/thriller!!! Besides knowing the timeline of events this book didn’t really give historical or thriller. If anything it was a suspenseful murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns. There was also a lot of back and forth with who really committed the murder which kept me on edge. Just when you think you know who the killer is you’re wrong.

The author did well blending historical facts with fiction to perfectly capture the time period. We have a dual timeline set between 1930 and 1944 in Berkeley, California after WWII involving the death of two characters. While this wasn’t a ghost story I just knew when the death of Iris was mentioned and the doll was found in the hotel closet of Walter Wilkinson after he was murdered we’d get a haunted hotel type of vibe.

Instead we’re given backstories woven through both timelines explaining how everything and everyone is connected. The characters are well-drawn and the author masterfully uses her side characters to help build an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty. Isabella was definitely a manipulator but her grandmother was the slickest character of them all. The way she came off seemed shady and like she had something to hide.

Overall, this was pretty entertaining my only downside was the author constantly referring to the Japanese as Japs. I rolled my eyes every time she used the reference cause ma’am you’re overdoing it. But if you’re into detective style historical fiction you might enjoy this. Special thanks to the author & @minotaur_books for my gifted copy!!!

Rating 3.5/5⭐️

Ms. Chua’s writing is superb, great pacing, engaging, descriptive in a way that activated my imagination— a bit too good!

I really want to continue to read this book but I could get nightmares from reading about some little girl’s death and her doll’s appearance many years later at a murder scene. The hint of ghost story reminds me of The Shining so much so that it detracts from my wanting to read a good detective novel a la Agatha Christie.

I don’t like ghost stories or even the hint of it. It’s not my cup of tea. I’d highly recommend if you don’t mind it. It’s looking to be a rich in theme novel, if only I could get past the goosebumps and nightmare inducing scenes.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

An engaging murder mystery set in the 1940's, in Berkeley, California, The Golden Gate had me with its title. After that irresistible finger-wag, I was onboard from Chapter 1.

A rich family, a presidential candidate, a ghost, a major political power of China, an old historic hotel, a brand new detective, and I have to admit my favorite was the 11-year old sidekick. That's a new twist! Reminded me of Flavia de Luce in the Alan Bradley books. . .

Full of California and historical references, twists and turns aplenty, likeable characters and good plot development, this was an enjoyable romp through a mystery that kept me wondering to the very end. Bonus: Author's Note was a satisfying bow tying up the Whys and Wherefores of her writing choices, always an enjoyable treat for this reader. . . motivations are all.

*A sincere thank you to Amy Chua, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.*

DNF at 36%

I feel like a lot of people will like this book, it just wasn't for me, which is sad because I wanted to love it. I found the writing hard to follow and it was hard to remember all of the characters.

While I expected this to be a fun book about my area, I had no idea how exciting and compelling the story and details would be!

With a nod to noir writing, Amy Chua covers a lot of ground with her tough-talking detective, Al Sullivan. He finds himself at the hotel scene where the murder of a former Presidential candidate who was having an affair with Madame Chiang Kai-Shek happened. The evidence gathered in that murder sheds new light on an unsolved murder from decades earlier of a young daughter of a famous and wealthy family.

That was a great start to the book. She was able to put us in the period of the crimes, which was right after WW2, with tensions over the Japanese internment still raw, the housing crisis for many of the black workers who worked in the shipyards during the war, the Chinese gangs and political influence of Chinatown, and the Mexican immigrant laws that were recently enacted. It was a fraught time, especially for a detective with his own secrets.

For a debut novel, I thought it was a great read- especially true for anyone who in interested in the history of the Bay Area of California.

I would like to thank the publisher for access to a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

Amy Chau's debut historical mystery is a must read for all. Set in the 1940's bay area this novel is skillfully crafted to read like a classic detective novel, historical fiction, with a bit of family drama. It has well researched themes and amazing characterization. If I am honest the pacing of the work was a bit uneven, but never hindered or disrupted the story. So if you are looking for a crime novel with a bit of a ghost story. I recommend picking this novel up. Happy Reading

The Golden Gate is historical fiction, set in the 1940s in San Francisco, and it's a very complicated murder mystery story that covers the murder of a politician, a wealthy socialite family, and Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife. Al, the protagonist, is half Mexican but passes for white, and has to navigate some complicated situations. He is intrigued by and attracted to members of the wealthy Bainbridge family, while suspecting all of them in the murder of the politician.

I really had no idea what to expect going into this book. It was a very complex and even at times a little confusing murder mystery, but overall, it was extremely entertaining, and I couldn't recommend it more.

It leans more noir than thriller and is led by a Berkeley detective in 1944 with flashbacks to the past. Looks into the lives of the Bainbridge family and their secrets.

The author's note at the end detailing her research and inspiration is a must-read. I loved the bits of Californian history interspersed throughout the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In 1944 Berkeley, Homicide Detective Al Sullivan is thrust into a new case: the assassination of a presidential candidate, wealthy industrialist Walter Wilkinson. As he delves into the case, Sullivan’s investigation entangles him with the Bainbridge heiresses, political ambitions, and the intriguing world of forensic advances, all while dealing with issues of race and class.

Mysteries set in post World War II have been on my reading shelf this year, so when I saw this one, I was intrigued. A complicated mystery with multiple suspects and a connection to a ten year old mystery? Sounds fun! However, I wasn’t prepared for just how complicated it would actually be. It was difficult to keep track of possible motivations when the narrative kept jumping between the detective, memories of the past, and the grandmother’s written deposition.

I wouldn’t have minded as much if there had been a character I cared about and there just wasn’t. Every character was complex and it felt like the author wanted each one to be interesting. By the end, I had given up and when the culprit was revealed, I was just glad it was done.

Maybe I just don’t care for books with unreliable narrators. If you’re looking for a book set in the 40’s and focused on the upheaval of San Francisco, you might enjoy this more than I did.

I’m surprised I haven’t seen more of this one floating around on the bookstagram. This one surprised me in a great way. Part classic noir detective murder mystery, part historical fiction, part ghost story. I feel like the ghost story could’ve been played upon more though. The mystery was solid and kept me guessing all the way. I received e-galley and audio of this one as well and mostly did audio. Narrator was perfection! If you like detective noir stories, I highly recommend this one!

The Golden gate by Amy Chua is a wonderful debut mystery demanding I keep my eyes peeled for what this author does next. Pacing and foreshadowing were handled particularly well and there were plenty of clues to help those who like to solve the mystery alongside the characters. Due to the nature of racism against the Japanese when this novel is set there is prolific use of one slur that did make me particularly uncomfortable. This title is a good fit for thriller fans who enjoy a good deal of suspense leading up to a books conclusion.

“If I told a jury that Japs killed Santa Claus, I could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Everything changes, Sullivan, once you’ve got a different color defendant in the box. There isn’t a jury in this state that wouldn’t send a Jap to the gas chamber if they had a chance.”

4.5 stars, rounded upward.

‘The Golden Gate marks the authorial debut for Amy Chua, a badass author whose stories will be read for a long, long time. My thanks go to Net Galley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the review copies. This book is for sale now.

Our story is set during two time periods, 1930 and 1944, in Berkeley, California. Detective Al Sullivan is investigating a murder whose roots are inextricably tangled with those of another, in 1930. Our point of view shifts often, both in time period and narrator. Most of it is told in the first person, either by Sullivan or by the elderly Genevieve Bainbridge, grandmother of the victim in the 1930 murder, now ready, in full Mama Bear protective mode, to do whatever she must to protect what family she has left.

The narrative has a strong noir flavor, and I halfway expect to find Humphrey Bogart around the corner, smoking and looking pensive. However, there is something Chua brings to the story that Bogart never did: a frank look at the injustices of the period, from the immense disparity of wealth among the denizens of Northern California, to the shameless victimization of people of color, who were much fewer in number in this part of the world then, than now.

I put this information up front, because in the early portion of the novel it isn’t obvious that the racism isn’t being highlighted, rather than propagated. I nearly discontinued reading this book because the “J” word is a hot button for me, and I initially believed that it was being used as a lazy way to depict the culture of Anglo Caucasians during this time period. I’ve seen it done many times, the use of the racial slur against Japanese because the author believed it increased the story’s authenticity. In Chua’s case, it’s the opposite.

The solution provided at the end relies overmuch on the journal of Mrs. Bainbridge, and in places, the details of the murder, and the motivation for same, are a stretch. For that reason, I initially rated this fine novel four stars. In the end, though, I realized that the social justice component more than makes up for it.

I was fortunate enough to have both the audio and digital galleys. Although the readers do a creditable job, the complexity of the story, including frequent changes of place, time period, and point of view, make for a confusing listening experience. For that reason I recommend the print version over the audio, unless both are available together.

Highly recommended.

Amy Chua’s debut novel The Golden Gate is a fascinating historical mystery set in the San Francisco area in the 1940s. It not only feels like a classic detective mystery, with a wide variety of characters and suspects, but it also sheds light on the tumultuous political and racial divides of the time period.

When Walter Wilkinson, a presidential candidate, is found murdered and left in an undignified manner in his hotel room at the famous Claremont Hotel in Berkley, Detective Al Sullivan is assigned to the case. The trail of clues leads him to a web of suspects, including the First Lady of China and the elite Bainbridge women. As he digs deeper into the mystery, more deaths are linked, including the tragic death of young Iris Bainbridge over a decade prior, at the same Claremont Hotel. Sullivan must figure out who is behind Wilkinson’s murder, and secure the weapon and motive, when no one is who they seem to be and the truth remains elusive.

This novel focuses on life in California during World War II throughout the narrative. Much of the book digs into the factual history of what happened to Japanese and Chinese immigrants after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the internment camps where Japanese immigrants were forced to relocate, and the hatred and racism that Asian immigrants faced as a whole. There are also discussions of the treatment of Black Americans and Mexican immigrants leading up to and during that time period as well. Sullivan, a Mexican American who can pass as white, takes his mother’s name after grappling with the events of his own family’s past, and begins to develop a deeper relationship with his biracial niece Miriam, adding emotional and familial elements to the overall narrative.

I learned so much throughout this book of how the state of California came into existence and the political, cultural, and socioeconomic shifts that the state faced throughout its history. The mystery was done well, with many twists and characters involved. It read like a detective mystery, and felt like it could have been a movie. Overall, if you enjoy detective mysteries that dig into the social and political themes of the era, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.